Factors for the Stability of Ecosystems

Climate

• the average weather of an area
• organisms usually endure small changes.
• they cannot survive large changes
• Require a stable ecosystem with constant climate
• Example:
  • Don’t take a polar bear to Australia
  • A Kangaroo won’t survive in Alaska
  • Different climates mean organisms of an ecosystem could not succeed in another climate

Matter and Energy flow

• The pyramid shape with producers on bottom create a stable balance in population size which will, therefore, maintain resources
• The ecosystem is stable with a pyramid shape

Birth and death rates

• Equal birth and death rate increases stability
• More births than deaths have overuse of resources and it hurts the population.
• More deaths than births lead to possible endangerment of the population.

Organism interactions

• Predator-pray relationships help balance population
• symbiotic relationships
• Example:
  • legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria
    • Plants receive nitrogen
    • bacteria receive food of plant